One less traffic snarl for Hollywood

The Hollywood Christmas Parade is no more. Last year's 75th edition of the parade was the final one, organizers announced today.

"This is a very difficult thing for us to have to do," said Jeff Briggs, chairman of the chamber's board of directors. "We're disappointed and sad. But we're out of the parade business."

The business group, supported by member merchants' dues, lost about $100,000 in staging the 2006 parade. Losses were expected to double this year, Briggs said.

Longtime parade producer and honorary mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant is sad — but upbeat! "When that last float with [sic] down the street last year, half my life went with it," he told the Times. "But L.A.'s changing. America's changing. The public has many more entertainment platforms now."